The berberine bridge enzyme catalyzes the crucial step in the biosynthesis of an important class of alkaloids through a reaction that cannot be carried out using conventional organic chemistry tools. Characterization of the enzyme demonstrates a concerted mechanism that couples two distinct chemical steps—oxidation and proton abstraction—affecting two separate groups of the substrate.
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Fraaije, M., Mattevi, A. Cyclization in concert. Nat Chem Biol 4, 719–721 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio1208-719
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio1208-719
